Radius-rod brace and self-steering device.



C. CHRISTI'ANSEN.

RADIUS ROD BRACE AND SELF STEERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED 1uu'27, l91a.

1 272,2 1'? Patented July 9, 1918.

E1 E1 Er m: mmms PETERS co Pnomuma, wAsmmzmn, n. c.

UN S ATE PATENT rm CHRISTIAN CHRISTIVVEANSENY', 10F sIo x rn'LLssoU'r AKO A.

Z '0 all whomc't may concern: w Be it known that I, CHRISTlAN.CHRISTIAN- SEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux Falls, in the county ofMinnehaha and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radius-Rod Braces and Self-Steering Devices; and I do declare the. following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such, as will enable others skilled in. the art to whichit appertains;tomake and usethe same 7 My invention relates to improvements .in automobile accessories and more particularly to those adaptedqfor use in connection with machines of the .type employing -a V-shaped radius rod anchored at fits crotch in a ball socket and secured at its ifrontends to the front axle. Heretofore, numerous'de vices have been. provided for-bracing this rod to prevent the same from bending under excessive strain, most of these devices-extending beneath the radius rod from the lower edge of the front axle to the crotch of said rod. Other contrivances have been devised for yieldably holdingthe steering rod in a neutral position and for returning said rod to this position when the steering wheel is released. Devices for both purposes have proven effective but the application of both to a car renders the same unnecessarily cumbersome and in many cases unsightly. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide in a single device both self steering means and bracing means for the radius rod.

In carrying out the above named object, I make use of certain novel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of an automobile running gear showing the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane of the line22 of Fig. 1, the improved device being shown in elevation.

In specifically describing the structure shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar'characters will be employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the ':Ts everal views and referenceflwill be herein-made to the numerous elements by RADIUS-430D BRAQE :AND SELF-STEERING D VIC Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1Y9, 1918. Application filcdJuly 27, 1916. Serial No. 111,742. H r I their respective indices. To this end, A. designates the front axle of a well known type ofautomob le, R refers to the radius rod, and .S to the socket in which the usual ball .at the crotch of the rod R is universally mounted, the front ends of said rod being secured to the axle A'through the instru mentally of the usualbrackets B to which the front-spring of the vehicle is attached. 5R designates-a. transverse steering and whichlis pivoted at its ends toithe steering arms a, it, being to return this'rod to a neutral position as well as to brace the radius rod R that the present invention is devised. v 1 A rigid one-plece bar '1 extends between the lower-Y edge .of the axle-A and the crotch -rod: Rand thus furtherrelieves the latter of a great deal of strain.

The barl is'preferably about an inch and one-half or an inch and three-quarters wide and approximately a half inch thick in order that it may'eflectivelv resist the strain placed thereon, the ends of said bar being preferably directed upwardly on a slight incline to depress the intermediate portion of said bar sufficiently to clear the steering rod SR. The extreme front end of bar 1 is decreased in thickness and bent upwardly and rearwardly to provide a hook 2 receiving the usual rib along the front of the axle A at the lower edge thereof. Coiiperatiug with hook 2 is a clamping plate 3 which overlies the lower bead on the rear side of the axle A, bolts 4 being provided for drawing said plate into operative position. Preferably a washer plate 5 is interposed between plate 3 and bar 1. Near its rear end bar 1 is given a quarter twist as indicated at 6 while said rear end is provided in its extremity with a notch 7 which forms a seat receiving herein the crotch C.

By constructing bar 1 in the precise manner shown and described, it may be easily 2 v a n 37 12 7 vtral position and wilhalso' 'retnrii' sa'i'd rod "to this position when the'ope'ra'torpermits by sufli cientlylreleasing' :thes te'eringfyvheel or byiturni n'g the latter toward its nor nal position 'rFromthe foregoing taken in connection with the a'ccompanyni'g draw ngs, 1!; will be v observed that although the1inv'ention is extremely simple and inexpensive, it "will be highly eflicient and durable and will perform-two functions for ,whichtwo independent devices have heretofore beeirnecessary. il he p1;referred1forfn of the "deviceis illustrated but it is to be nnderstood that v vsrithfinthescope of the invention as iclainied, vnumerous changesmay be made without sacrificing "I claim': 1

Aicombine d (radius rod brace and self steering" device fOI'lRIltOlIiOblleS comprising l'themain advantages thereof.

"a substantially straight approximately horizontal bar-shaving nearone end a quarter twist and inclining upwardly to *a slight extent froin this twist to said end, said inl edlp-q tiqn ha ing its ides disposed ticall'yafid saidena havih'gu notch to reflfi-YQQAQ cmt h ith? radius the n ainder of the length of said bar having its disposed in substantially horizontal planes and the end of the bar oppo'site said notc li bein bent upwardly and inwardly to form a hook to receive the lower beadat the front side of thdalitbliibile axle; clampin 'pldi'e at the nppers'ideof'said bar'for passage over the lower bead at the rear side of the axle, a b olt for drawing said plate toward s'a'idba'r; lever positioned'longitu di nally" on -the front portion of said" bar and fiilcrnlned between-it"s ends ther'et'0, the

irontar'id rear e'nds'of said-lever'being off- [set awn-(11y; a coiled spring connected to the 'r'ear'end of said and hooked atits' rear end into anopening in said inclined portion ofs'aid bar, 'air'o' ":l extendinglaterally' fro and pi'voti sfd t0 the front end of s'aidlever, and a clamp" for conn'e'ctin'gsaid rod plvo't ally to thetransverse steering rod of the machine.

I'n te'st im0ny whereof I have ;hereunto set my handain" the presence of two subscribing witnesses, i

mil irlivsxzr:

Witnesses:

HAROLD G. -LEDY-ARD,- Swine Giuesisr; 7

4392 299! 311 imam: JQ-QQQMQDQQ X9; arc t each, y flslugQt-th f'gomhl gi gpeut215M9 9,

ev nings!)- 9::

lever ati'ts front'end 

